Mine conveyer



E. F. MULLER July 25, 1933.

MINE CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1931 July 25, 1933. E F,MULLER 1,919,302

MINE CONVEYER L9 /NVENTOR Erns FMu//erf E* www@ July 25, E. F MULLER vMINE CONVEYER Filed May 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sei N VEN TOR PatentedJuly 25, 11933.Y

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE) ERNST r. MULLER, OF COLUMBUS,OHIQASSIGNOR To THE JEFFERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, ACORPORATION or OHIO MINE CONVEYEI;

Application file-d May 14,

The present invention relates to transportable conveyers of a typeparticularly adapted for use in coal mines, although many otherapplications are possible.

According. to the embodiment of the invention to be hereinafterdescribed, the conveyer is supported'on a movable base, preferably inthe form of a wheeled truck adapted for movement over the tracks of amine, through the intermediary of a horizontally extending armsupported' at one end on the base for pivotal movement about a verticalaxis and also for vertical adjustment, and at its other end supportingthe conveyer for movement relative thereto about both horizontal andvertical axes. A counterweight is provided in connection with theconveyer supporting arm and means are provided through the operation ofwhich the conveyer may be adjusted about its horizontal supporting axis.Normally, the delivery end of the conveyer extends in overlying relationwith the supporting arm and in order that this end may rest in closeproximity to the arm, the Ydriving devices for the conveyer are mountedbeneath its receiving end.

While the conveyer has a general field of usefulness as a mine conveyer,itis particu-f larly' useful under certain circumstances in connectionwith a primary conveyer as will be hereinafter described.

InY the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a practical illus- `trativeembodiment of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; f

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section'of means forsupporting theconveyer supporting arm on the truck;

F vigure' 4 is a view partly V-in vertical section of the connectingmeans between the supporting arm and the conveyer;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2; and f Figurey 6 is a viewin plan showing the apparatus of the present' invention asineluded in aloading out system in a mine. i

Referring to the drawings, reference numerals 10 Aand 11 denote the sidesills of ar truck frame supported on axles 1'2 and 13 1931. serial' No.537,393.

provided at their ends with wheels `11i and 15 adapted-for engagementwith the rails of'a mine track, one rail being shown at 16, Figure 2.The sills lO and l1 are connected by cross sills 17 and 18 between whichand centrally of the side sills is supported a yoke 19.` depending froma frame 2O which is bolted to s the sills 17 and 18 by means of bolts21.

Rigidly supported in yoke 19 in vertically projecting relation is ascrew pedestal22 which is surrounded by a tubular member23 having'internal threads engaging the threads of the pedestal. member 23 isradially expanded to form an annular ledge 24`upon which is stepped,through the intermediary of a ball bearing 25, a barrel 26. Immediatelyabove the bar-v rel is keyed a hub 27 from which radiate a number otlevers 28 constitutinga spider,

Y through manipulation of which tubular mem-` ber 23 is rotatablefor'vertical displacement At its lower end tubular relative to pedestal22. Hub 27 is restrained against upward displacement by means of a capplate 29 fixed to the uppervend of tubular member 23 and in turnprevents upward displacement of barrel 26 relative `to the tue. bularmember. Upward movement of the ytubular member relative to the pedestalis limited by a plate 30 secured to the top of the pedestal.

Barrel26 has, as here shown, a horizontally i extending arm 31 integraltherewith. At its free end arm 31has a vvertical bearing 32 iu which isjournaled a neck 33 which projects downwardly from a horizontallyextending bracket 34,', with which, as .here shown, it is integral. Thebracket has .an annular shoulder portion 35 stepped on a bearing sur-Vface36 marginal to the upper end of thebearing opening. An' annularplate 37 secured to the lower extremity of neck 33 engages beneath an-annular shoulder lformed `in bear- A,ing 32 to prevent upwarddisplacement of the neck. 1 The `neck. 33 is tubular and hasthreaded'therein a screw 38 to the lower projectingend of which is fixeda hand-wheel 39.

. At'its `free. end, bracket 34 hasa transverse upstanding rib 40provided with a horizontal bore in which is disposed a pivot piny 41whose axial. line is substantially perpendicular `to a line radial tothe neck 33.. The under side of the bracket is provided with a pluralityof apertures 42 formed about a common center and selectively engageableby means of a spring pressed pin 43 mounted in the eX-V vmade uppof sidewalls 45 and 46 which sup-V port between them a pan 47 over whichtravels the werkingrun cfa conveyer belt 48,.

which, at the ends of the conveyer, passes about rollers 49 and 50, theformer vbeing at the'dclivery end and the latter at the receiving end ofthe conveyer. Inwardly of rollers 49 and 50, the idle run of the belt isengaged by rollers 51 and 52, the latter being shown in cross section inFigure 5, as eXemplifying suitable structure and mounting means for allof the rollers involved in the conveyerl structure. Inwardly of roller52, the belt is looped about rollers 53`and 54, the former being a driveroller which is rotated from a suitable motor 55 through an armaturepinion 56, a gear 57, a sprocket wheel 58, a sprocket chain 59, and asprocket wheel 60, all of these driving devices being supported adjacentand beneath the receiving end of the conveyer.

CTD

` pivot pin 41.

Roller 49 is provided with well known adjusting means 6l whereby thebelt may be suitably tensioned.

The upper edges 62 and 63 of p'an 47 are outwardly Hared and havesecured thereto rigid guide strips 64 and 65 from whose lower edgesdepend flexible strips 66 and 67 in contact with the upper run of thebelt whereby material is kept from working under the belt edges. y

It Will be understood thatwhile I have described a belt conveyer 'asbeing well suited to the purposes of the invention, any suitable form ofdraft and material engaging devices may be used. i

VSomewhat forward of its medial portion but inwardly of the abovedescribed driving devices,the frame members 45 and 46 have brackets 68and 68, Yigures l and 4, secured thereto, these brackets being providedwith aligned apertures in which is engaged the To the rear ofpin 41 andimmediately above screw 38, a bolster 69 is bolted across the framemember.

` vThe transporting position of the conveyer is that particularly shownin Figure 2, wherein its delivery portion overli es arm 3l insubstantially parallel relation thereto, bolster 69 resting on bracket34 and a further rearwardporti on ofthe conveyer, through a transversebottom plate'7 resting on capplate 29, tubular member 23 being in itslowermest position. It will be evident that arm 31 and conveyer 44 maybe swungr to any desired.

angle relative to tubular member 23 when the conveyer is to be set inworking position and the arm and conveyer may be translationallyadjusted through rotation of tubular member 23 relative to the screwpedestal 22 through manipulation of the spider; Further, ybracket 34 andthe conveyer may be swung relative to the arm if desired upon releasinglocking pin 43. Also by rotation of screw 38 through hand wheel 39, theupper end of the screw abutting bolster 69 will cause angular adjustmentof the conveyer about the horizontal axis of the pin 41. It will beunderstood that the delivery end of the conveyer somewhat overbalancesthe receiving end thereof so Athat bolster 69-is normally in contactwith the top of bracket or with the upper end of screw 38 after thelatter is adjusted to project above the bracket. e

In order Vto stabilize the apparatus, an arm 70 is fixed to barrel 26 inoppositely eXtendf ing relation to arm31 and supports a suitable Ycounterweight 7l.

According to Figure `6, a room A is being developed olffof the entryB,the minetrack C being curved off to the room and being shown assupporting loading apparatus comprising a gathering section Darticulated to a discharge section E which is mounted on a truck F.Wit-h the machine D, E, F in the position shown, it will be seen thatthe Vdischarge conveyer E would be unableto discharge properly into alcar G situated on the track. Under these circumstances, theconveyer 44of the present invention may be positioned intermediate the dischargeconveyer E `and the car Gr and so adjusted as to transfer material fromthe conveyer to the car under all conditions. As here shown, thesupporting arm 31 is angularly adjusted relative to its supporting truckand bracket 34 is angu. larly adjusted relative to the arm. Suitablevertical adjustment and inclination of the conveyer is, of course,obtained in the manner already described. Many other situationspresenting like dil'hculties Vin properlyspotting the car arise and canbe most conveniently met by the apparatus of the present invention. Ifdesired, the delivery end of the conveyer maybe maintained over a car onthe track and the receiving end swung from side to side of the room.

In Figure 6, the conveyer is shown in dotted lines as assuming aposition for gobbing refuse over Yto the rib, and can, of course, bemoved across to a similar position on the other side of the track.Various other maneuvers for meetingparticular :situations will occur tothose skilled in the art, and while one of the uses of the apparatus ofthe present invention is aswan 'adjunct or intermediary between a mainconveyer line and a mine car,

it may, ofcourse, be used entirely independ l barrel and extending inthe opposite direc-` comparatively light so that whether mounted t upona truck, caterpillar tractor, slide shoe, or other support, it iscapable of being shifted without difficulty to its needed position.

While I have'described in detail a practical embodiment of theinvention, it is tobe understood that I do not limitmyself as tostructure except as in the following claims,

I claim:

1. Apparatus vof the class described comprising a movable base, ahorizontally extending arm supported on the base, a pivotal connectionbetween the arm and base to per' mit the arm to swing above the baseland through an unrestricted range about a vertical axis, an elongatedvconveyer, a pivotal connection between the arm andV conveyer re-` motefrom the first named connection to'p'ermit the conveyer to swingrelative to the arm about a vertical axis, a second' arm in rigidconnection with the first and projecting in the opposite directiontherefrom, and a counterweight mounted on the second arm remote from thefirst mentioned pivotal connection.

2. Apparatus of the class described' comprising a movable base, anupright, screw pedestal supported on said base, a tubular membersurrounding said pedestal and provided with internal threadsoperatively'engaging thoseof the pedestal, a barrel surrounding saidtubular member and stepped on a radial flange of the latter forrotation.

relative thereto, a horizontally extending arm rigid with said barrel,an elongated conveyer sup orted on said arm remote from said pedesta andmeans operablejto rotate said tubular member to effect its verticaldisplacement relative to the pedestal. A'

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a movable base, anupright screw pedestal supported on said base, a `tubular membersurrounding said pedestal and provided With internal threads operativelyen-V gaging those of the'pedestal, a barrel sur# rounding said tubularmember and stepped on a radial flange of the latter for rotationrelative thereto, a horizontally extending arm rigid with said barrel,and an elongated conveyer supported on said arm remote from saidpedestal, a second arm secured to said tion from the first, acounterweight supported on said arm remote from the pedestal, and meansoperable to rotate said tubular member to effect its verticaldisplacement relative to the pedestal.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a movable base, anupright screw pedestal supported on said base, a tubular membersurrounding said pedestal and pro- ,vided with internal threadsoperatively engaging those of the pedestal, a barrel sursaid horizontalaxis.

rounding said. tubular 'memberzandstepped i I on airadial flangel ofvthe-latter for rotation relative thereto, a horizontally extending armiArigid with said barrel', an elongated conveyer supported on said armremote from said pedestal, anda leverfixed 4to said tubular memberabovesaid barrel for rotating the .former relative to the pedestal, thelever hav! ing a hubportion preventing upward displacement ofthe barrelrelativef to thetubwlar member.v

5. Apparatus i 4the class described .com-

prising a movable base,a horizontally ex-v tending varm su ported on thebase, ay pivotal connection be y permit thearm to swin above the baseand through an unrestricte range4 about a vertical axis, an elongatedconveyer supported at vits medial portion on and above saidarmremotefrom said pivotal connection for` pivotal tween the arm and basetomovement relative to4 the arm about both vertical `and horizontal axes,one en/d ofthe conveyer overbalancing theother about said horizontalaxis, and means engaging under the overbalancing conveyer portion andvertically adjustable to swing the conveyer about 6.*Apparatus of theclass described'comprising a -movable-base, a horizontallyextending armsupported on the base, a pivotal connection between theA arm and basetopermit the arm `to swing` above the base andl through an'Aunrestricted range about a ver- Y tical axis, van relongated conveyersupported` at its medial portion on andI above said arm `remote `from.said pivotal connection for pivotal movement relative tothe arm aboutboth` vvertical and horizontal axes,one end of the conveyeroverbalancing theother about said horizontal axis,` a vertical `screwengagingv the overbalancing conveyer portion, and

means operable to rotate andvertically disremote rfrom said neck, saidconnection hav` ing a horizontal pivoting axis substantially4Vperpendicular to a line radial to the neck, one end of the conveyer'overbalancing the other aboutsaid horizontalaxis, a screw threadedtical adjustment relative thereto, the overbalancing portion of saidconveyer being sup-v portable on said screw for'adjustment thereby aboutsaid horizontal axis, land vmeans operable to rotate said screw. Y

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a wheeled'truck, an armpivotally Y in said tubular neck and rotatable for versupported bythe'tru'ckiorv swinging 'Inova ments thereabove -on an upright "axis, anelongated eonveyer frame pivotally supported on'the outer'end ofsaid-arm for swinging movements relative to the arm about horizontaland'upright axes, one end of said'frame overbalancing t-he other aboutsaid horizontal axis, said arm and eonveyer frame in the normaltransporting-position of the parts extending 'in thelongitudinaldirection ofthe truck lWith the overba-laneing end of, saidframeabovethe truck, and means for supporting saidoverbalaneing end.

9. Apparatus of he class described coin-l prising a wheeled truck, anarmpivotallyv supported by the'truek for 'swinging movements theraboveonV anv upright axis, an elongated conveyer fra-me lpivotally supportedon the outer end. of said'arm for swinging nioveinents relative vto thearm about horizontal and upright axes of which the upright axisvisnormally. nearer therswinging axis of the arm thanthehorizontal axis,one end of said' frame overbalancing the other about said horizontalaxis, said arm and con veyer frame in the normal transporting positionof the parts extending inthe longitudif nalfdirection or thetruc'lrz'with the overbalancingi end of said frame'above theYt'rucln'andY means for supporting said overbalancing end. j10.',Appa'ratus of the4 class described comprisinga wheeled truck, anarm-,pivotally supported -by the truck for swinging moves, mentsthereabove on an upright axis, an elon gated eonveyer frame vpivotallysupported on the outer end of said arm or'swinging'm eve-v mentsrelative yto the yarm about-horizontal and upright axes, one end of'saidframe over-.

balancing, the other y about said horizontal axis, said arm and conveyerframe 1n the norlmal transporting position. of the parts Vextending'inthe longitudinal direction of the gated conveyer frame pivotallysupported on the outer endof said arm for swinging move-v to adjust saidarm vertically relative to the truck. i Y

l2. Apparatus of thefclassd'escriberd oom-U prising a wheeled truck, anVarm'pivotally supported by the truck for swinging move* mentsthereabove on an uprightaxis, anY elongated conveyor frame pivotallysupported on the outerfend of said arm for swing? ing movements relativetothe armabouthorizontal andv upright axes, one end of said frameoverbalancing the other about'saidY horizontal a1:is,said armandconveyor frame in the `normal transporting position of the partsextending in thn longitudinal direction oftheA truck with theoverbalaneing end of said fframe abavethe truck, vmeans tor supportingsaid overb'alancing end, said lastnamed means including an uprightserewV carried by said arm and adjustable to tilt said frame about itshorizontal axis; Q f

18. Apparatus .of thev classdeseribed. Com'- prising awheeled truck, anarm pivotally supported by the truck for swinging movements thereaboveon an upright axis, an elongated conveyer trame pivotally supported onthe outerl end of said arm for swinging movements relative to the armabout horizontal and upright axes-of which the upright vaxis is normallynearer the swinging axis of the arm than the horizontal axis, one end ofsaid frame overbalancing the other about saidhorizontal axis, saidarm'and conveyor framein the normal transporting position of the'partsextending in the longitudinal direction of the truck withtheoverbalancing end of said frame above vthe truck, and means `forsupporting said. overbalancing end, said last named means including ascrew 'coaxial' with the upright pivoting` axisof the frame andadjustable. to tilt' the frame about ii'ts vhorizontal axis. -ERNSKv F.MULLER.

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